Chapter 4:

CHAPTER 3: A MIRACULOUS WIND

The Beastman Saint is H*rny, so I was Kidnapped to Another World Vol. 6


The boat that Ursura was hiding was in another cave, just right above the waterline of the cove where she captured me. It was a rather small vessel, with a pair of oars for rowing that were neatly kept inside it. She covered the boat with seaweeds and dead branches so that it remained inconspicuous to those who’d come passing in the area.

I, for one, did not notice it when I was there earlier.

“Can you row?” Ursura asked me.

“Yeah, I think so?”

“It’s just a question of yes or no.”

“Yes, I know how to row. It’s just that I am not sure for how long I can do that.”

Tch. Weak-ass human…” she muttered, “If only I’m not injured…”

I’d just let it pass since I could understand that it was only an expression of her frustration. And it’s not favorable for me to confront Ursura for now, no matter how pissed I am with her. I needed her help to get out of this island.

“You take the oars and row for both of us,” Ursura told me, “Can you keep rowing until we’re far from the island? I’d take over once we’re out of danger; I’ll just remain on guard to fight off our pursuers.”

“Yep, understood.” Honestly, as I told her before, I’m not sure if I could keep on rowing. But since Ursura had more fighting power between us, I guess it’s only fair for me to take the oars myself.

Soon after assigning our roles, we were out in the open lake on our way to freedom. Fortunately, I did my assignment by watching those Yo*tube videos about rowing, so I knew what I should do. While I attend to the oars, Ursura stood behind me, her eyes towards the island, on the lookout.

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However, it’s not a smooth-sailing escape.

“Hey, I could smell those fox bastards coming near!” I heard Ursura’s panicking voice, “Can’t you paddle faster?”

“I’m trying!” I told her in between my breaths. Goodness, once I escaped this, I’d make sure I’d train my body to do more heavy work! “Do those guys also have boats?”

“What do you think, idiot? How do they even haul their asses in that accursed island if they got no boats?”

“Well, fuck…

Shit, here they come!”

From the corner of my eyes, I saw several boats running up to us on both sides. It got my heart beat faster, and with adrenaline rushing, I rowed like it was the last time I’d do that. Perhaps there were also those pursuing us from behind; in any case, I don’t want to look.

“Incoming!”

I could feel Ursura moving from behind me, causing the boat to swerve as I paddle. I think she’s trying to shield me from the flying spears that were being thrown at us, to punch a hole in our vessel.

“Hey! I thought they want you alive?” she called out to me, “By the looks of it, they wanted you dead!”

“Don’t ask me! I’m also surprised they’re throwing those spears at us!”

It was hard to row with Ursura’s movements. However, I couldn’t blame her. She was trying her best to protect me—as well as our boat—from the projectiles. I’d say, though her body’s quite ‘well-developed’ in certain areas, she was as nimble as a ninja.

And to think that she’s injured, too.

So, not wishing to be left behind, I increased my efforts to row our boat away from our pursuers. However, soon my human body reached its limit, and my arms were now aching from overuse. Still, I persevered.

“Hey! Why are we slowing down?” Ursura blurted out.

“I…I’m tired!” I cried out.

Damn it! Give me the oar!” she yanked it away from my hands, even as the deadly projectiles were still raining down on us.

“W-What do you want me to do?”

“Well, wish me luck until I could pull this off!”

“What about if we got hit?”

“Try to be of use for once and become a shield for my boat!”

“What?” I was horrified when I heard that, but had no time to talk to her. The spears kept on raining down on us, and some had actually reached our boat. Luckily, it didn’t pierce the wood; but I’m afraid it would if this continued. I quickly removed those that have ropes tied to them—those fox tribesmen were trying to pull us back towards them.

Meanwhile, Ursura gave the push our boat needed, and it took the lead against our pursuers. I couldn’t help but admire her strength. She had been fighting since earlier, but she never seemed to get tired—

“Human, behind you!”

“!!!”

It was too late for me to move away from the spear flying directly towards me. I could only close my eyes as I inadvertently put my arms forward to block the deadly projectile…

I only wish some miracle would happen so that I can survive this!

“!!!”

At once I felt a gale of wind crash onto me from my right and almost caused me to fall to the water, if not for Ursura’s quick reflexes.

“What the—”

Once again, my bear-woman companion shouted. I opened my eyes, and to both our surprises, the boats of our pursuers were put off-course by a huge wage behind us, brought forth by the gale—with some accidentally crashing into each other, or capsizing and sinking. Not only that, but their spears were also blown away. Ursura and I were dumbfounded by what we witnessed.

What did just happen?

Oi, Kuro! What did you just do?”

“What? Are you telling me I did that?”

“Well, who else? Between us, only humans could cast magic!” Ursura was panicking, “And then once I let my guard down, you’d use your magic to bind and violate me!”

“What the hell are you saying?”

“I’ll kill you right now!” Ursura stood up, ready to strike me.

“I didn’t do it!” I quickly refuted her, “I can’t even use a single spell!”

Ha? Don’t lie to me! That is extremely powerful wind magic, to make that big wave! You didn’t even use a key-word to execute your magic attack!”

“Look!” Desperate, I focused on my hand, only to produce nothing, “Come forth! Wind!”

“…”

“See? No magic,” then, I followed it up with, “Come on. If there’s a truth in your accusation that I’m someone powerful, do you think those Fox tribesmen would last long earlier? I could destroy them with a flick of a finger!”

“…”

I reached out my hand to her, but she turned away from it. Unfazed, I told her, “Please, I beg you. Help me escape this place, and I promise I won’t bother with you again.”

Ursura stared at me with confusion and suspicion; regardless, she preferred to remain silent and went back to rowing. And with that, we escaped from our enemies and landed on the other side of the shore unmolested.

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***The Holy Palatial Gardens***

The entire palatial complex was strangely quiet, even though the daily routines of the servants, paladins, and nuns-templar went by as usual. Thanks to the newly appointed Grand Mother Templar Superior, everything was working like a well-oiled machine, allowing Maddie to focus on the matter about Kuro…

Several days had passed since she received a vision from Natasha, where the black-haired saint informed her about the former’s nearly successful rescue attempt. However, the good news was that Kuro was now out of Ruro’s reach—though his location was unknown.

“…”

To Maddie, it was enough reason to be hopeful. If Natasha could enter Cherwind, then there might be a way into it aside from Ruro’s permission. At the very least, she knew where to find him—in Cherwind, the land of the Beastmen race.

Without delay, she ordered her Paladin Corps to organize a search party to Cherwind. She and Lily would’ve gone with them had it not for the Grand Mother Templar Superior, and the Duchess of Henristone herself, who pleaded that she remained in Chersea.

“Please let us do it,” the Duchess of Henristone told her days ago, “I’ll lead the expedition myself, Your Holiness. Chersea needs you more than ever; you can’t leave your people now.”

And so, with great reluctance, Maddie let her paladins do the work. Truth be told, she had wanted to ask the High King of the Gods for help. However, she also knew that the old god had already broken His promise not to interfere once again when He came to aid Natasha in saving Kuro.

“…”

Maddie’s anxieties never disappeared. Questions like, ‘What if something happens to him?’ or ‘What if he misses the search party by mere seconds?’ filled her head. It was endless torture—

“!!!”

Her deep thoughts suddenly vanished when she felt her pencil’s graphite snap.

“Maddie?” Lily, who was serving tea, noticed her.

“I’m fine.”

“Don’t worry too much,” the Head Maid patted her shoulder, “I’m sure Kuro’s okay, wherever he is. I mean, he survived the undead; and Cherwind is a bit more civilized now than it was in the past.”

“Yes…” Maddie sighed, “Thanks for reminding me that Lily, at least it lightens my heart. By the way, how’s Eris?”

Hmm…though she’s still shaken, Lady Braunhauer is slowly recovering,” Lily winked, “And she’s with me for the meantime; so, she’ll be fine.”

“You’re really a strong woman, Lily…”

“Me?” the Head Maid chuckled, “I’m sure you could see the flood of worries I had in mind about Kuro. I’m not that strong, you know?”

“But in times like this, we could rely on you,” Maddie replied, “While I could only wait in despair…”

“I beg to disagree, Your Holiness.”

“Why?”

“Isn’t it you remained here for your duties, despite the urge for you to go?” Lily pointed out, “If you were the old you, I bet the opposite would happen.”

“Well, I’m sure Kuro wouldn’t like me dragging the whole humanity down in trying to save him.”

“Precisely. Kuro has brought out the best in us. I’m not the only one who’s getting stronger, see?”

Maddie pondered on Lily’s words. Sure enough, if she’s the old ‘her’, things would’ve been different. And Lily, if it wasn’t for Kuro, she would still be stuck in her past. That otherworlder tried his hardest to bring out the best in them, and the one thing that they could do to reciprocate his feelings was to stand and do their duties.

Gone are the days that Madelaine Ann Rubinforth is a Saint being influenced by her feelings…

At once, Maddie felt a surge of hope in her heart. Although he may be gone for a while, she would make sure that Kuro would return to a better Chersea they had fought for…

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**Kuro**

“Hey human, wake up!”

“Hm?”

“We’re almost near the coast. Wake your ass up.”

“Oh…” though I’ve been out of my wits for a few seconds, I eventually remembered that I’m trying to escape…that’s why I’m currently in the middle of the sea.

For a moment, I panicked there…haha.

“Here,” Ursura handed me the oars, “I’ve been tired from rowing for quite a while now, so the least that you could do is to take over me, now that you’ve finally rested.”

“Right…sorry to pass it to you even though you’re injured.”

Hm? Now that you’ve mentioned it, I think my wound’s pretty fine now.”

“Really? Well, it’s just a light wound, so naturally, it’d heal fast.”

“Are you sure you didn’t use magic on me?”

“Are we going over this talk again? I told you I got no magic.”

Ursura didn’t answer and just closed her eyes. I guess she’s also exhausted from our journey. See, because Ruro’s cave-palace was in the middle of a crater lake, our escape didn’t go that easy. Well, what I meant was, the challenge was too great for me.

For one, the ‘Cauldron’—that is the name of Ruro’s place—was a caldera of an extinct, or dormant, island volcano. Ursura told me it was a ‘sleeping mountain’, so I reached that conclusion. And of course, escaping meant that we had to traverse high and steep slopes while contending with the thick forest vegetation as well…that was the part where most of my energy got sapped like a battery in an old vehicle. By the time we reached the island’s coast, I’m too tired to lift a finger.

But Ursura pushed me beyond my limits. This bear-woman isn’t aware of the limits of the human body…

…which would lead to the second challenge, for as soon as we came to shores, we had to steal another boat from one of the Fox tribe villages that dotted the island. See, our previous get-away vessel had to be left behind at the caldera, for we couldn’t carry it down to the coast. And since we’re in a hurry to leave, we had to move right away. Ursura acted as bait for the Fox tribe villagers, while I sneak in to steal a boat.

However, much to my dismay, we didn’t foresee that the boathouses were locked, and while I’m trying to pry it open, Ursura came rushing to my position with the entire village in tow, forcing us to run for our lives.

It was only in the second village did we get our precious boat. And this brute of a beastwoman made me help her drag it to the water…

Hey, I’m not complaining. I’m just telling what happened; I can’t whine, I’m being helped at after all.

“After this, I’m through with you,” I heard Ursura say. Well, judging from her voice, I could tell that she was not angry despite her words, “I just don’t want to have anything to do with you humans any longer.”

“Understood. Thanks for the help,” I told her.

It’s quite nice that the sea we’re currently crossing was different from the ones on Earth and Chersea. Here, the waters were completely calm; as in the waves, and gale-force winds were absent. Because of this, it was easy to row and made talking in your normal tone possible.

“Hey, Ursura, just a question…”

“Yeah?”

“Is Chersea far from here?”

“The human realm?”

“Yes?”

“Well, I’m told that the crossing to that land is towards the north, in the direction we’re taking,” Ursura explained as she pointed behind me, “It’s beyond the mountains inhabited by the Ursus tribes.”

“Ursus? You mean your tribe?”

My companion remained strangely silent the moment I mentioned it. Looks like she had a past with them she wishes not to talk about; so, I’ll just stay out of that issue.

“Anyway…” I continued, “Are those mountains you’re talking about far from here?”

“Not only ‘far’, but ‘really far’,” she quipped, “Why, what’s the rush? Are you in a hurry to go back to your lover’s side?”

“What if I am?”

“You’re one strange human,” Ursura chuckled, “Most of your kind that I’ve encountered left Chersea to get laid by our women. But you, you’re running away for the pleasure.”

“I was kidnapped,” I reiterated, “Besides, I decided to be faithful to the girl I love. That, for me, is my pleasure.”

“Yep. Definitely strange.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Haa…”

“That sure is a long sigh.”

“Well, I’m just wishing that all men of your race have the same mind…” Ursura stared at the air as mused on her words.

“Is…there something going on in this land?” I felt my companion was itching to tell me something, that’s why I asked that.

“Well…there’s—nah. It’s better if you see it for yourself.”

Now it was my turn to be silent. I was wondering what could she mean by that…

“Alright, human hero Kuro, once we reach the shore, I’ll be off. I don’t want any other humans to see me,” she explained, “Now listen to me. Don’t you ever go alone to the crossing to Chersea? You’ll be safe if you hitch a ride with a human caravan traveling out of this land.”

Hm? Why?”

“Well, in case you don’t know, Cherwind is full of roaming monsters. Wild leviathans, freaky harpies, huge groundworms; you name it, we have it.”

“What is this place, Australia?” I couldn’t help but blurt out. I’ve read about those monsters before; long ago, Chersea had them but were eventually exterminated. While the leviathan was domesticated, the man-eating harpies and groundworms had to be killed.

“A what?” Ursura was confused by what I said.

“Nothing. Don’t mind me.”

“So yeah, as I was saying, it’s better if you travel with your fellow humans. They won’t venture out of their defensive walls without an army capable of dealing with those monsters.”

“Well, thanks for the information…but, how about the place we’re landing at?”

“It’s pretty safe,” Ursura assured me, “The coastline I’m dropping you was within a human enclave, and it’s free of monsters. That’s why I need to hurry once you’re ashore.”

Oh…I wish I could thank you more for your help, but yes, thank you once again, Ursura.”

“Hmph,” was my companion’s only reply. Soon enough, the coastline of mainland Cherwind appeared, and we prepared to land.

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***The Cauldron, two long sleeps after Kuro’s escape…***

“Your Holiness, we beg for your forgiveness in allowing this to happen.”

Kashca Telis bowed even lower than her men to show her sincere regrets to their saint, the great Ruro of the Wolf. They were hoping to be forgiven and be let off the hook, after that bungling pursuit of their prisoner and another ‘beastwoman’.

Ruro, however, remained unmoved by her guards’ show. She just stared at them while she lazily leaned on her throne.

“…” Kashca Telis was determined to remain in her position for as long as possible.

“Well, what do you want me to do? Hug and congratulate you on your failure?” Ruro didn’t hide the sarcasm in her voice, “No matter how low you bow, or even prostrate yourself, my Kuro won’t return to me! All because your men are all buffoons!”

“Your Holiness, we tried to run after them, but the bear-woman with Sir Kuro was just too strong. She killed a good number of my—”

“That’s enough, Kashca Telis! I won’t hear any more of your excuses.”

Kashca Telis could say nothing once her liege dismissed her reasons. Ruro’s court was silent as she stood up and lifted the face of her captain of the guards.

“Listen…” the Beastman Saint caressed Kashca Telis’ cheeks, “You know I don’t like long explanations. You and your men failed, that’s what matters.”

“I-I’m sorry—”

“Hush now!” Ruro gently stopped her, “It’s not a big deal for me you failed. I guess your men also went through a lot in pursuing my Kuro…but, I can’t blame you. That man’s intelligent compared to your stupid men—in fact, I would be surprised if you captured him easily!”

“But Your Holiness! Let us redeem our names! Let us cross into the Isidus territory to capture that man!” the fox-woman pleaded.

“There would be a time when it would come to that, Kashca Telis,” Ruro chuckled, “However, in the meantime, let him run. You know how delicious it is to see your prey desperately struggle before you eat him…”